Alcatraz escapees could have survived, new study finds

It's believed that no one has ever survived an escape from the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, including the three inmates who inspired the Clint Eastwood film "Escape From Alcatraz" -- but a new study claims that may not be true.

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Alcatraz escapees could have survived

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Alcatraz escapees could have survived, new study finds

This is an aerial view of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, shown June 12, 1962, the day three prisoners escaped. (AP Photo)

This is a view of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, shown June 12, 1962, the day three prisoners escaped. (AP Photo)

This is an aerial view of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, shown June 12, 1962, the day three prisoners escaped. (AP Photo)

This is an aerial view of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, shown June 12, 1962, the day three prisoners escaped. (AP Photo)

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In 1962, Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin managed to flee the maximum security prison and escape the island using floatation devices made from waterproof raincoats. Though their bodies were never found, authorities have always presumed that they died off the coast of San Francisco.

However, a team of researchers from Delft University and the institute Deltares believe that the convicts could have survived the deadly tides if they fled just before midnight.

After studying the tides of June 11th 1962, researchers found that if the jailbirds set off before eleven at night, they would have been swept out to sea where they would have likely died of hypothermia. If they got in the water after midnight, Morris and the Anglin brothers would have pushed into the bay where they would have either died of hypothermia or been picked up by police.

If they happened to take their floatation devices into the water between eleven and midnight, there's a chance they could have made it to land just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

If the team of researchers are correct, it's possible the three escaped convicts are still alive today.